Monday, May 12, 2008

Fear of the word Depress Shun

Lately, I have been getting feedback from some people who are relatives or friends and have been surprised. Some people will not even look at this blog because of its title "Depress Shun". The word is shunning them from wanting to see the writing and slides and videos.

Since a blog is interactive, I do consider very much the comments of others. The reason to create this blog to begin with was to help develop the multi-discipline piece "Depress Shun". The idea being to create a large sculpture about avoiding the "hole of depression", originally it was to "show how one gets into the hole and gets out". Someone's feedback was "Don't show others how to get into a hole. Show them how to avoid it." It had been my fear that my sculpture idea might have the opposite effect of awareness and help people to get depressed...so...I listened to Ben.

May 21st at 7pm there will be a documentary on Channel 13 about Depression. One area it will cover is "stigma" surrounding this debilitating illness.

I was once told by a doctor in reference to my depressions...you can forget or you can choose to remember. It is painful at times, but the remembering helps me to understand the "hole" and therefore, realize I don't ever have to return.

I want to help others understand. I am doing that by sharing my own experiences, thoughts and feelings. I have been trying to share about the joy and what creates joy in my life. Today I am aware again that criticism by some people in our lives can cause great frustration and pain. They do not reaffirm us. Yet, with art we can still speak out the words that fall on "deaf ears" and hope that some will hear.

2 comments:

Wanderer said...

Hi Nancy,

Thanks for stopping by my blog. I appreciate your comments. I've added your blog to my favorite link list.

Thank you for sharing your experiences and for remembering where you've come from. I struggle to remember, but my illness has made much of my experience vague and distant. My reaction to trauma has been to bury it. There have been many times when I have wished that I could remember some of the worst of what has happened to me so that I could really learn the lesson of the experience. Memory can be a trap, but it can also be a powerful way to feel/define the Self.

I think it's great that you are using your life to express your art and to reach out to people.

Kate

nancy said...

Wanderer62,

Thank you too for visiting my blog and also for telling me you will add it as a link.

Since I recently got feedback that some people are fearing to visit, your words are especially reassuring and precious to me.

It is so interesting what you share about trauma and memory. I guess that some emotional distance is necessary and possibly another human being who is very compassionate and wise to walk with one to revisit the trauma.

Nancy